With the skipper still not training properly a month after he was meant to return from knee knack, Benitez will push for more January signings

John Terry has given Rafa Benitez another Chelsea headache as he is facing an extended spell on the sidelines.

Demba Ba will be unveiled as a Chelsea player on Friday, and is set to make his Blues debut as the holders open the defence of the FA Cup at Southampton 24 hours later.

But Benitez will push for more January recruits after being hit by a major player shortage.

With the Africa Cup of Nations taking away John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses, Benitez fears he will also be without two of his remaining senior players for the rest of the month.

Petr Cech will be out for “two or three weeks” with the groin injury sustained at Everton on Sunday, meaning an extended run in goal for understudy Ross Turnbull that will include both legs of the Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea.

And the interim Blues chief also admitted he cannot say when skipper Terry will be back in the heart of his defence.